Half to geo



(No Model.)

- W. J. ARMSTRONG.

GAME APPARATUS.

No. 443,889 Patented Dec. 80,1890.

m znesse s:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM J. ARMSTRONG, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TO GEO. F. JONES, OF SAME PLACE.

GAME APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 443,889, dated December 30, 1890. Application filed June 13, 1890. Serial No. 355,305. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM J. ARMSTRONG, of Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Game Apparatus; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in game apparatus; and it consists in the construction and arrangement hereinafter described.

The object of my invention is to produce a game apparatus by means of which the game of base-ball can be played upon billiard or pool tables or tables which are made expressly for the purpose, and thus enable the game of base-ball to be played with billiard or pool balls and cues.

Figure 1 is a plan view of a table upon which my game of baseball is played. Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-section of the same.

I take a table A, which may either be made especially for the purpose, and which is provided with side rails and cushions B around its four edges, like a billiard or a pool table, or may be a billiard or pool table changed so as to answer my purpose. Upon this table A there is drawn or marked a line 0 across it any suitable distance from one end and a base-ball diamond D.

At each corner of the diamond there is a pocket or cup '13, just deep enough to receive one half of a ball, and these cups or pockets F represent the four bases known as first, second, third, and home=plate, in the game of base-ball.

Around each pocket F is marked a ring G, of any desired circumference, within which the party about to shoot can place his ball after taking it from the pocket, and inside of or upon which rings the player is safe from anyshotsfrom the opposite side. Also, marked upon the table are spots upon which the eight players or balls in the field are placed, and these balls represent first-base man L, second-base man K, third-base man J, the pitcher sented by a diiferent-colored ball from the I, who guards the home-plate, shortstop M, right-field man P, center-field man 0, and left-field man N. The field is all that portion of the table below the first, second, and third bases, the same as in an ordinary game of base-ball, and all that part of the table back of the transverse line C is neutral ground, in which one player cannot playon the balls of the other.

In the center of the diamond is placed the umpire H, which is not to be moved by either one of the sides in making its shots, and which umpire thus prevents the making of random shots. This umpire will be repreballs used by either one of the sides. The spots for the first, second, and third bases and pitcher are made upon the line of the diamond so as to place these four balls directly in a line with the pockets F, and thus cause the side that is in to shoot the balls in such a manner as to first strike the cushion and then carom in the pocket, or to make bank-shots. The first, second, and third bases and the pitcher, being placed directly upon the lines of the diamond, serve as guards to the bases and home-plate, and thus prevent the players who are in from shooting the balls directly into the pockets. In case the umpire is struck by a ball of either side, either by kissing, miss-cue, or in any other Way, so as to displace the umpire, the side to Which the ball belongs has one man put out. If the umpire is displaced by the side in the field, it scores one of the men out on the next inning. If one of the balls of the side that is in displaces the umpire, that player is out.

The number of innings to be played by the two sides or the number of outs foraside will be optional with the players. The sides will iihoot alternately, the side that is in shooting rst.

Upon the tops of the rails at four different points are marked spots or points R, for which theside that is in can shoot the balls 5 so as to carom into the pockets F. The balls of both sides are marked with numbers from 1 to 8, and one, two, four, six, eight, or any desired even number of players can play upon a side. The player upon the side thatis in or at the mo bat, and who has ball No. 1, first takes his ball and places it inside of the ring G, that is around the home-plate, and with his one attempts to put his ball into the first-base pocket by caroming against the rail. If he makes the pocket, he again places his ball in the ring which surrounds the first base and again shoots for the rail at the end of the table and tries to put his ball into the secend-base pocket. If he succeeds, he can then in the same manner shoot for the third base, and then for the home-plate, making a homerun. Should he fail in any of his shots to pocket his bail in the base for which he is due, then No. l of the players in the field can take any of the balls in the field and either knock the player into the base for which he is due, and thus put him out, or can knock the player away from the base for which he is due, the player in the field using his ball as a cue-ball. After the ball of any one of the players in the field has become displaced it must be returned to position before the party that is in can take another shot. Xone of the players who are in must displace one of the players in the field in making his shot for a base or pocket. After No. 1 of the party that is in has shot, ball No. 2 takes his turn, and from the home-plate attempts to make the first base, as above described, and if he fails to make this or any other of the bases the party in the field whose time it is to shoot can use any of the balls in the field as a'cueball and knock the player into the pocket of the base for which he is due, or knock him away from the base.

If any less number than eight are going to play on a side, then that number must manage all eight of the balls upon their side, the players taking regular turns in making their shots.

To decide who gets the first inning, throw one ball to each side from the jug. The side getting the highest number takes the first inning. The side getting the smallest number will take the field.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. In a baseball-game apparatus, the combination of a table having a base-ball diamond, pockets at the corners of the diamond, spots to represent the players in the field, and a spot at the center of the diamond for the umpire, substantially as described.

2. In a base-ball-game apparatus, the combination of a table having a baseball diamond marked upon it, pockets at the corners of the diamond, spots to represent the position of the players in the field, and a neutral space at the opposite end of the tablefrom the field, substantially as specified.

3. The combination of a suitable table having a base-ball diamond marked thereon,

spots upon which the balls of the party in the field are to be placed, four of which spots are located upon the lines of the diamond, pockets or cups placed at the corners of the diamond, and the two sets of balls by means of which the game is played, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I affix mysignature in presence of two witnesses.

\VM. J. ARMSTRONG. W'itnesscs:

F. A. LEHMANN, Gno. 1:. Jonas. 

